Meralco suspends disconnection activities in Laguna, NCR

The Manila Electric Company (Meralco) will suspend disconnection activities in Laguna and the National Capital Region (NCR) for select dates this month, following the shift to strict quarantine restrictions in these areas.

Meralco said disconnection activities in Laguna will be suspended from August 1 to 15, given the implementation of the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) in the province.

Disconnection activities in the NCR will also be suspended from August 6 to 20, 2021, as the area will again be placed under the strictest enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

“Given the current situation, we continue to take into consideration the challenges our customers are facing amid these difficult times,” Ferdinand Geluz, Meralco's first vice president and chief commercial officer, said in a statement.

“Thus, we will again suspend all disconnection activities in NCR and Laguna to help ease the burden of our customers with the needed relief and additional time to settle their bills,” he added.

The company also urged customers to reach out regarding billing concerns, and for them to take advantage of the period to avoid the inconvenience of having to queue once the ECQ is lifted.

“Meralco business operations, including meter reading and bill delivery activities, will continue throughout the ECQ. Our continued operations will ensure that actual consumption for the month will be billed accordingly,” Geluz said.

“But rest assured there will be strict implementation of health protocols in order to safeguard the health and safety of both customers and our personnel,” he added.

Meralco said its business centers will remain open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. from Monday to Friday, and from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturdays. Crews will also continue to be on standby 24/7.

The company hiked its rates in July, marking the fourth straight month of increases.

Meralco constructs, operates, and maintains electric distribution systems in the cities and municipalities of Bulacan, Cavite, Metro Manila, and Rizal, as well as certain areas in the provinces of Batangas, Laguna, Pampanga, and Quezon.

Shares in the company were trading at P264.80 apiece as of 10:32 a.m. on Tuesday, down by 40 centavos or 0.15%.  —KBK, GMA News